The lawn was covered with blankets and the air filled with anticipation as the crowd of many awaited Bicentennial Park’s latest offering from their Rhythm on the River series. Rhythm on the River is the Scioto Mile’s free summer-long outdoor performance series, featuring a variety of performance arts on its amphitheater stage overlooking the park. One of their final performances featured Columbus’s own BalletMet dance company.
As this was my first ballet performance ever, I’ll admit that my knowledge of ballet was limited. I knew it wasn’t all pink tutus and ballerinas but beyond that, I had the same impression that many have about ballet: that it’s the stuffy, uptight, prim and proper older sibling of the dance arts that’s pretty to look at, but not very much “fun.” I was more than glad to discover I was wrong.
The duet by dancers Adrienne Benz and Gabriel Gaffney Smith showed a more sensual and emotional side of ballet. Performing almost the entire duet atop a small box platform, the piece told the story of the ups and downs of a relationship between two lovers. At times, the two leapt freely and independently atop the box, other times dancing perfectly in sync. Still other moments captured the two lifting and supporting the full body weight of one another.
The show featured a variety of favorites from past performances as well as a sneak peek from BalletMet’s next show.
A personal favorite highlight from the evening was the piece entitled “Simply Sammy” from the upcoming American Songbook show. Dancer Courtney Muscroft wowed the crowd with her jazzy solo number to Ray Henderson’s “Bye Bye Blackbird.” In a dazzling all-black fitted getup, Muscroft showed the audience there’s more to ballet than pliés and prancing as she showed off a much jazzier and sexier side of the dance style. Flipping, tumbling, and seductively tipping her fedora, Muscroft gave quite a show.
Also from the “Simply Sammy” piece was a more upbeat and lighthearted performance by dancer Gabriel Gaffney Smith. A large gaggle of small children surrounded the base of the stage for a very up close and personal view of the fun piece. The kids very much enjoyed the silly faces and other comedy infused into the performance as Smith floated around the stage to the 70’s classic, “The Candy Man Can.”
BalletMet’s next show will be The American Songbook, a celebration of iconic American musicians such as the legendary Sammy Davis Jr., Duke Ellington, and country great Patsy Cline. The American Songbook will not only be a program of dance, but will also feature the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus singing Songbook’s songs live!
Songbook opens September 21st and runs through October 7th. Tickets start at $20 and are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, through Ticketmaster’s phone line, 800-982-2787, and through the CAPA Box Office at 614-469-0939. BalletMet will have a free open rehearsal at the BalletMet Performance Space (322 Mount Vernon Avenue behind the main building) on Friday, September 14th from 5-6pm.
For more on BalletMet’s upcoming 2012-2013 season, visit www.BalletMet.org.
Rhythm on the River ended last week, but for more on the Scioto Mile’s fall events, visit www.SciotoMile.com.
